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Article: Uncle Sam needs a few good biologists. (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to spend $80 million per year on biological weapons countermeasures)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- May 24, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A few weeks ago, part of Washington, D.C., ground to a halt as a Jewish organization received a mysterious mail package with the word "anthrachs" written on it. Anthrax is a deadly bacteria] toxin and just one of many biology-based weapons that several countries and terrorist groups may be developing (SN: 5/18/96, p. 311). The package was a false alarm, but it took many stressful hours to determine that. Military officials now hope to develop more effective sensors for biological weapons.
"You would know quickly, in a matter of minutes, whether it was a real threat," says Lawrence H. Dubois of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the same ...